News:Season of Lent Begins on February 17th
What Is Lent?
Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means “spring.” The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. The first Sunday describes Jesus’ temptation by Satan; and the Sixth Sunday (Passion/Palm Sunday) Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his subsequent passion and death. Because Sundays are always little Easters, the penitential spirit of Lent should be tempered with joyful expectation of the Resurrection. (The United Methodist Book of Worship)
Ash Wednesday Services
On February 17th, our congregation will begin the traditional celebration of Lent with Ash Wednesday services at 7:00 a.m., 12:10 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. These services feature the imposition of ashes, a ritual in which ashes are placed on the worshipper’s forehead as a sign of repentance. This ancient practice unites us with Christians around the world as we begin our preparation for the celebration of Easter.
